Downs Syndrome

[poppetpoodle17]

I don't know whether to have the test for downs syndrome or not. I have 3 weeks to decide until my next appointment. I would be grateful for any advice from people who have had it and what it involves. Thanks, Jo. x

 

[Coco pops]

Hello! do you mean the combined test? I had that done as all it involved was some measurements at my 12 week scan and a blood test. I wouldn't personally go any further than that but thought if the combined test shows there is a high risk we could prepare ourselves and do lots of research.

Personal decision though - there isn't a right or wrong thing to do xx

 

[midnight]

like coco pops said there is no right or wrong way tbh i decided not to have any test because i wouldnt take it no further than the bloods and scan therefore if it did show a risk i could worry for nothing so i chose not to and if it turns out my baby has DS i know i will cope as i already have a child with disabilities and we didnt find out on him for sure until he was around the age of 1 so id rather not know because i know there is nothing that will prepare you for it whatever decision you make will be the right 1 for you xx

 

[lucylu87]

when I was pregnant, I chose not to have it done. i personally knew that whatever happened I would want my baby. Luckily, he is perfect. I am in a really low risk category as well, goes off ur age, so once midwife told me how small the chance was anyway, I decided it wasnt for me. However, its ur personal choice completely and depends what may run in ur family/ur age etc. xx

 

[lynne_n]

I chose not to have the tests as i felt that if it came back as being high risk i would spend the rest of my pregnancy worrying and pouring over pages and pages on the net.
Having an amniocentesis wouldn't be an option for me as it caries a risk of miscarriage.

 

[poppetpoodle17]

Thanks everyone for the advice. My mam had to have a needle through her belly button with me when she got checked for downs syndrome baby. That was because she was nearly 37 years old when she had me though. I am still so unsure about it x

 

[charliebear]

When pregnant with AJ I chose to have the blood test for Downs syndrome.
The hospital I went to didnt do the nuchal scan & blood combination.

I wouldnt have tested any further, but if the results showed a high risk we could have prepared ourselves for babies arrival.

 

[poppetpoodle17]

What is the nuchal scan? x

 

[charliebear]

Its where they measure the back of baby's neck via the 12ish week scan, combine this with the blood test and its the 'combined' test for downs syndrome - someone please correct me if I have anything wrong

 

[charliebear]

http://www.babycentre.co.uk/pregnancy/antenatalhealth/scans/nuchalscan/

 

[poppetpoodle17]

Is the nuchal scan where they have to go through your belly button? Is this the one that carries a risk of miscarriage or has it changed? Sorry to be a pain I just want to get everything set in my head before I make a decision x

 

[MamaBee]

I have a little boy with downs, he was my first baby,i had the blood test & it came back high risk. It gave me time to think about what might happen when he was born, i was told about heart defects... etc but the 20 wk scan showed everything was ok and he is a healthy wee boy. With my second baby just had blood test came back low risk, it helped a little but you always think what if.
I think knowing something might happen helped me but its a personal decision.

If you have any questions please feel free to ask.

 

[poppetpoodle17]

Thanks very much that info was dead helpful x

 

[poppetpoodle17]

So you only had a blood test and it revealed that info? I am not sure what I am going to be offered just the midwife said that could I come to a decision next time she sees me so she can book it in with my scan x

 

[MamaBee]

yes it was 1:75 which was very high for my age i was 17 at the time.

 

[poppetpoodle17]

Thanks very much for your help you have been really informative x

 

[charliebear]

No the needle in your tummy is a Amniocentesis.
I think this is the next step if the first results come back high. You do not have to have this. Even if you have the scan and blood tests and get a high result.

 

[MamaBee]

Blood test and nuchal scan is only for high or low risk.

The needle is called the amniocentesis and you can have a miscarriage with that one.

 

[meggymum]

I'm having the combined scan. So I will get blood done but also nuchal fold scan and from there they will tell us in a letter if its low risk and a home visit if its high risk.

Only if its high risk will they consider doing an amnio. Down my way they wont offer it at all if you are low risk.

xx

 

[Bella2]

I feel in a bit of a predicament with this too - I had the nuchal scan and bloods done yesterday but part of me wishes I hadn't because if it comes back high risk I will worry like mad. I also wouldn't want to have the amniosentisis and risk miscarriage. I suppose this way though theres a chance my mind might be put at rest completely (if it comes back low risk) whereas if I hadn't had it done at all it would probably still be at the back of my mind for entire pregnancy anyway x x